Maine: Olympia Snowe Announces Retirement

(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sen. Olympia Snowe announced today that she is retiring from the Senate, citing the partisanship of Washington as her reason for not running for re-election.

“With my Spartan ancestry I am a fighter at heart; and I am well prepared for the electoral battle, so that is not the issue. However, what I have had to consider is how productive an additional term would be,” the Maine Republican said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, I do not realistically expect the partisanship of recent years in the Senate to change over the short term,” she added. “So at this stage of my tenure in public service, I have concluded that I am not prepared to commit myself to an additional six years in the Senate, which is what a fourth term would entail.”

Roll Call Politics had rated this race as Safe Republican. Snowe’s decision means that the race is seriously in play for Democrats. She was first elected to the Senate in 1994 and won her last re-election in 2006 with 74 percent of the vote.

Virginia: John Douglass to Switch Districts and Challenge Hurt

Ret. Air Force General John Douglass is expected to announce next week that he will run in Virginia’s 5th district instead of in the 10th.

The Democrat’s campaign said today that Douglass will travel through each county in the expansive 5th district, currently held by freshman Rep. Robert Hurt (R), before his March 6 announcement. Douglass had originally filed to run against Rep. Frank Wolf (R) in Northern Virginia, but Douglass’ home was drawn into the 5th under the redistricting plan signed into law last month.

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Ted Cruz Unsure on Backing John Cornyn if Elected

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated 6:55 p.m. | A controversy is stirring up in Texas about leadership, conservatism and state loyalty.

It began last night, when the Dallas Morning News published an interview with former Solicitor General Ted Cruz. Cruz said he was undecided on whether he would vote for Sen. John Cornyn for GOP Senate Whip in November, should he be elected to the Senate.

Cruz “won’t decide his vote for GOP whip, one step below party leader, until November — once it’s clear how many ‘constitutional conservatives’ got elected,’ Todd Gillman of the Dallas Morning News wrote.

“I’m not going to prejudge,” Cruz told the paper.

Cruz walked back the comments today on Lubbock radio station KFYO, questioning the context of the statements.

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North Carolina: Charlotte Councilman Announces for Sue Myrick District

Charlotte City Councilman Andy Dulin announced a bid for Congress in North Carolina’s open 9th district today, hoping to replace retiring Rep. Sue Myrick (R).

In an interview with Roll Call between announcement events, Dulin, 52, harped on his constituent service bona fides and his opposition to President Barack Obama’s health care law and the Dodd-Frank legislation.

Dulin emphasized his “service record” to his constituents and explained that “nobody beats [him] when it comes to hard work, when it comes to service, when it comes to serving the customer.” Full story

North Carolina: Kissell Challenger Jumps Districts

North Carolina insurance executive Daniel Barry, who entered the GOP primary to take on Rep. Larry Kissell (D-N.C.) in August, today announced he is now running in the open 9th district, currently represented by retiring Rep. Sue Myrick (R).

Barry, who lives in the 9th, had trouble gaining traction in the crowded Republican field looking to take on the deeply vulnerable Kissell and will probably have a better shot of winning in the 9th district. Full story

Race Rating Change: Dan Burton’s Departure Makes Seat Safe

Indiana state Sen. Mike Delph (R) announced Wednesday he would not run for retiring Rep. Dan Burton’s (R) seat.

“I will not be a candidate for Congress in 2012,” Delph, a former Burton aide, wrote on his blog.

Delph’s decision solidifies the GOP field to succeed Burton ahead of today’s filing deadline.

Several GOP candidates had already lined up to challenge the 15-term lawmaker in the primary before his retirement announcement last week. Former U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks, former Rep. David McIntosh, former Marion County Coroner John McGoff and attorney Jack Lugar will now square off in the open-seat primary.

Previously, Roll Call had rated the race as Likely Republican. But in light of Burton’s retirement, we are changing the rating to Safe Republican. The winner of the GOP primary will most likely serve as the next Member of Congress from this district.

North Carolina: Sue Myrick Won’t Seek Re-Election

Updated: 4:02 p.m. | North Carolina Rep. Sue Myrick (R) announced today she will retire from the House this year.

“After thoughtful discussion with my family, I have decided not to run for another term in Congress,” the Congresswoman wrote in a post on Facebook and said in a video posted on YouTube.

Brad Miller to Retire, Won’t Challenge Price

(Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Updated: 9:20 a.m. | Five-term Rep. Brad Miller (D-N.C.) will retire at the end of the 112th Congress.

In redistricting, a Republican-controlled Tar Heel State Legislature had drawn Miller out of his comfortably Democratic 13th district and made it solidly Republican. His home was placed in the 4th district represented by Rep. David Price, dean of the North Carolina Democratic delegation. Miller’s decision spares Democrats a potentially bruising Member-versus-Member race. Full story